Health Professional Award
This category is for individuals demonstrating excellence in patient care. The Award recognises health professionals who demonstrate ongoing commitment to improving health outcomes through delivering patient centred, evidence-based health care.
And the Winner is…
From left to right: Hon. Alanna Clohesy, Ellie Newman and Jason Wolf.
Elaine (Ellie) Newman
Ellie Newman is a Senior Medical & Aged Care Physiotherapist who has 12 years of specialist experience in Dementia care. She has worked extensively in the United Kingdom NHS system, as well as providing specialist Dementia consultation in private aged care facilities. Having moved to Perth, she is employed as a Senior Physiotherapist at Royal Perth Hospital. Currently, Ellie has been selected to lead and implement the Cognitive Impairment Project across the Royal Perth Bentley Group & East Metro Health Service, identifying a better way to care for patients with Dementia and Delirium through their healthcare journey.
Finalists are…
Clinical A/Professor Tim Bates
Clinical A/Professor Tim Bates graduated from UWA in 1996 and proceeded to complete internships and residences at Royal Perth Hospital. Thereafter he spent a year training in the United Kingdom, before completing physician training in Western Australia. As part of this training he undertook specialty training in the area of clinical lipidology with a special interest in genetic dyslipidemias and cardiac imaging. As a consultant he has held positions at Royal Perth and Swan District Hospitals before moving to the new St John Of God Midland Public and Private Hospital in 2015. Currently Clinical A/Professor Bates practises in the area of general medicine, stroke medicine and clinical lipidology. He has publications in all three areas. Outside of clinical medicine he holds adjunct status at UWA, is a member of the RACP training committee for general and acute medicine as well as the National Examination panel, as well as being the chair of basic Physician Training in WA.
Lorna Cook
Lorna Cook is a Registered Nurse with degrees in nursing and business. In 2013 Lorna together with Julie Adams, a specialist oncology pharmacist started an innovative company called chemo@home. As a nurse, Lorna had seen the devastating impact cancer may have on patients and their families. She also experienced this firsthand when her mother died of a brain tumour, leaving a lasting impact on Lorna. Through these experiences, she identified the need for a more patient centred, holistic service for cancer patients.
So, when the opportunity arose to be part of a new and desperately needed service for providing chemotherapy in the patients’ own home, she jumped at the opportunity. In just under 4 years Lorna and Julie have created a unique and highly professional health service which has helped hundreds of patients receive care in their own home and as a result have also received numerous business awards. Patients receiving their treatment at home report less side effects and readmissions to hospitals and enjoy not having to travel to hospital and having their own family close at hand. Lorna is undertaking a PhD at Edith Cowan University specifically in the care of patients receiving immunotherapy for cancer, hoping to implement new and better ways of managing side effects.
Dr Lee Jackson
After completing his training in general surgery, Lee Jackson then took up the position as Inaugural Breast Fellow at Royal Perth Hospital. He subsequently did oncoplastic and breast reconstructive training at the Nottingham Breast Unit in the UK. He is currently the Head of Breast services for South Metro Health service based at Fiona Stanley hospital, and is a Co-director and surgeon at Perth Specialist Breast Care based at St John of God hospital in Subiaco.
Meaghan Slattery
Meaghan Slattery graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2011 with a degree in Physiotherapy and every year since, that she has spent treating people, she has fallen more and more in love with the profession. She loves the diversity of her career from Women’s Health, post-operative physio to overuse injuries and vestibular rehabilitation. Meaghan loves that she can help people for a living and this goal motivates her to learn as much as she can, from as many people as she can, so no matter who walks into her treatment room, there is a way she can assist.
She is extremely passionate about her job, the people she treats and being the best physiotherapist she can be. Meaghan is honoured by this nomination and, regardless of the outcome, this nomination makes her motivated to learn more, help more and change someone else’s life for the better.
Dr Aesen Thambiran
Dr Aesen Thambiran is Medical Director of the Humanitarian Entrant Health Service, North Metropolitan Health Service. He was born in South Africa and studied Medicine at UNSW. He completed postgraduate training in General Practice and worked as a GP for many years in Lockridge WA before moving into the field of refugee health. He was previously a member of Amnesty International Australia’s National Refugee Team and was one of the founding members of the Refugee Health Network of Australia (RHeaNA). He is currently the Chair of the RACGP Refugee Health Special Interest Group and Vice-Chair of Hepatitis WA. His interests include improving health outcomes for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) communities, human rights and trans-cultural health care. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his three children, cooking and listening to World music.
Clare Woodrow
Clare is an accredited pharmacist visiting patients in the comfort of their own home. She provides medication management, that includes; managing poly-pharmacy (multiple medications); the interpretation of pathology tests; and non-drug innovations which improve and prolong independence at home, reducing the risk of falls. In 2015 Clare recognised the need to provide referrals to support services for clients with ongoing chronic conditions, including mental health issues, to provide holistic health information. Over the past 18 months, Clare collaborated with ConnectGroups WA to set up a program for pharmacists to be able to link clients with support services. This program is now being introduced to an additional 29 Pharmacy 777 Stores. She has completed two beginner courses in WA Auslan sign language hoping to provide better communication services to the deaf community and is very passionate about the importance of communication and accessibility of healthcare advice.